In Weber’s least-cost theory, what factors do firms weigh when locating a factory?

• A. Transportation costs, labor costs, material costs, and agglomeration effects.
• B. Random proximity to suppliers only.
• C. Political stability, climate, language, and tax rates.
• D. Consumer demand, fashion trends, and advertising.

Answer: (A)

Weber's least-cost theory centers on minimizing three main types of costs when choosing a factory location: the cost of moving inputs to the plant and finished goods to markets (transportation costs), the cost of labor, and the cost or advantage gained by being near other firms (agglomeration effects) such as shared suppliers, infrastructure, and a skilled labor pool. The option that lists transportation costs, labor costs, material costs, and agglomeration effects aligns with these drivers, since material costs reflect the expense of inputs and are connected to how far and how efficiently those inputs can be obtained and moved. The other choices discuss factors outside this cost-minimization framework—unstructured proximity to suppliers, broader political or climatic factors, or market demand considerations—so they don’t fit Weber’s model as directly.